Polyantha rose plant named ‘Phyllis Sherman’

ABSTRACT

Polyantha rose plant having a slightly spreading, mounded, well-branched, compact plant habit; vigorous growth; double flowers typically borne in clusters of 6 or more; vivid purplish-pink petals; continuous flowering throughout the growing season; resistance to major fungal diseases; reliable crown hardiness in USDA zone 4, and ability to root and grow vigorously from softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Phyllis Sherman’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of making this cross was to produce a new rosevariety having the continuous blooming habit, compact plant size, glossyfoliage, and disease resistance of the female parent and the doubleflowers, richer flower color, and extensive branching of the maleparent. The pollination occurred in late spring 2007. Seed from thiscross germinated during the winter of 2007/2008 and ‘Phyllis Sherman’was identified as a superior seedling and was first asexually propagatedduring the summer of 2008.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of roseplant of the polyantha commercial class designated ‘Phyllis Sherman’.‘Phyllis Sherman’ was originated by me by crossing ‘BAIpome’ (disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,602) and ‘Mountain Mignonette’ (not patented).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirableimprovements, as evidenced by the following unique combination ofcharacteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and thatdistinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties ofwhich I am aware:

-   -   1. Slightly spreading, mounded, well-branched, compact plant        habit;    -   2. Vigorous growth;    -   3. Double flowers typically borne in clusters of 6 or more;    -   4. Vivid purplish-pink petals;    -   5. Continuous flowering throughout the growing season;    -   6. Resistance to major fungal diseases;    -   7. Reliably crown hardy in USDA zone 4:    -   8. Ability to root and grow vigorously from softwood and        semi-hardwood cuttings.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by rooting softwood andsemi-hardwood cuttings, as performed at St. Paul, Minn., shows that theforegoing and all other characteristics and distinctions come true toform and are established and transmitted through succeeding generationsof asexual propagation.

Comparison with Parents

‘Phyllis Sherman’ has vivid purplish-pink double flowers (20-30petaloids that look like petals) and a slightly spreading, mounded,compact habit and differs from its female parent, ‘BAIpome’, in that‘BAIpome’ has single light pink to medium pink blooms (5 petals) and acompact plant habit that is more spreading and shorter. ‘PhyllisSherman’ differs from its male parent, ‘Mountain Mignonette’, in that‘Mountain Mignonette’ has a medium pink flower color, petals that do notlast as long before abscising, a more rounded plant habit, narrowerprickles, and foliage that is less glossy. ‘Mountain Mignonette’ sharesthe key trait with ‘Phyllis Sherman’ in that they both have doubleflowers. ‘BAIpome’ shares the key traits with ‘Phyllis Sherman’ in thatthey both have glossy foliage, similar shaped prickles, relatively longlasting flowers, and a generally spreading plant habit.

Comparison with Similar Variety

The rose variety with the greatest similarity to ‘Phyllis Sherman’ is‘KORtwente’ (marketed under the name Raspberry Vigorosa™; not patented),a rose sold under both the floribunda and shrub commercial classes bynurseries. Both ‘Phyllis Sherman’ and ‘KORtwente’ have double vividpurplish-pink blooms, glossy, disease-resistant foliage, and a slightlyspreading, mounded, compact, plant habit. ‘Phyllis Sherman’ has bloomsthat are smaller, more double, and borne in larger clusters than‘KORtwente’. ‘Phyllis Sherman’ has displayed greater crown hardiness inUSDA zone 4 than ‘KORtwente’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth, flowers, and hips of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as true as it is reasonably possible.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mature plant of ‘Phyllis Sherman’ flowering in alandscape with white roses of another variety in the background andchrysanthemums in the foreground.

FIG. 2 illustrates an opening flower bud.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of a group of flowers at differentstages of development.

FIG. 4 illustrates a leaf.

FIG. 5 illustrates stem tissue.

FIG. 6 illustrates ripening hips.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor descriptions using terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2015), except whereordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. The phenotype ofthe new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. Descriptions are based on observations ofplants approximately five years of age that were propagated fromsemi-hardwood cuttings.

-   Parentage;    -   -   Seed parent.—‘BAIpome’ (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.            16,602).        -   Pollen parent.—‘Mountain Mignonette’ (not patented).-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Rosa hybrida.        -   Commercial.—Polyantha.-   Flower:-   Blooming habit: Continuous throughout the growing season.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—10-11 mm long and 6-7 mm in diameter when the petals            start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is ovoid and pointed at the distal end.        -   Color.—When sepals first separate, visible petal color is            Red-Purple Group 61B at the distal end and transitions to            Red-Purple Group 62D at the proximal end. When half blown,            the upper or adaxial sides of the petals are a vivid            purplish pink and closest to Red-Purple Group N66A. The            lower, or abaxial, sides of the petals are Red-Purple Group            N57D.        -   Sepals.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146B on the abaxial side            and Yellow-Green Group 145A on the adaxial side. Length:            9-11 mm. Width: 4-5 mm. Shape: ovate to oblong with            acuminate tips. Surface texture: Adaxial, Hoary. Abaxial,            Generally smooth with some very small glandular hairs. There            are three lightly appendaged sepals. There are two            unappendaged sepals which have hoary edges.        -   Receptacle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146D. Shape: round to            slightly elliptic. Size: Small, about 3-4 mm wide and 3-4 mm            long. Surface: glabrous.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, averaging about 12-25 mm. Width:            Medium, averaging 1.5-2.0 mm. Surface: Generally glabrous            with some very small glandulous hairs. Color: Yellow-Green            Group 146D. Strength: Stiff, primarily erect.-   Bloom:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large for the polyantha commercial class.            Typical open diameter is 30-45 mm.        -   Borne.—Typically clusters of 6-22 blooms are borne at the            end of stems in an inflorescence type that can best be            described as an elongated or paniculate cyme. The flower at            the terminal or distal most end of the inflorescence opens            first and then secondary and tertiary flowers open later            that have developed on stems originating from axillary buds.        -   Form.—When blooms are in the process of opening: Petals are            slightly cupped. As blooms fully open petal edges curl or            reflex backward along their vertical axis. This leads to            petals that are held relatively straight along their length            and that look narrower with age due to the edges that have            curled back. The petals at this stage typically produce a            bloom with a hemispherical appearance. The hemispherical            pattern is formed by petals radiating outward with the            petals closest to the sepals generally facing outward to the            innermost petaloids facing upward.        -   Fragrance.—Slight. Character of fragrance: Sweet.        -   Permanence.—Blooms retain their hemispherical form to the            end.        -   Petal and petaloid number.—Roses have five true petals            (except for Rosa sericea which typically has four) and all            additional petal-like appendages are botanically petaloids.            Petaloids are stamens or, in some cases, also pistils that            develop into petal-like structures. However, petaloids that            do not have obvious remnant stamen development are often            called petals in common vernacular in United States Plant            Patents and the popular press. ‘Phyllis Sherman’, like            typical roses, has five true petals, between 20-30 petaloids            that look like a typical petal, and often 3-5 petaloids that            have some visible stamen development typically seen as a            single anther along one of the edges of a relatively narrow            petal-like structure. The petaloids with anthers attached            are found at the transition area in the bloom between the            most petal-like petaloids and the stamens. Pistils in            ‘Phyllis Sherman’ do not develop into petaloids. The size            and color of the attached anthers on petaloids for ‘Phyllis            Sherman’ varies, but typically is the same as what is            described later for anthers. Additionally, the color of the            petal-like portion of the petaloid is typical or consistent            with the color shared by a true petal or a more petal-like            petaloid without visible anther development.        -   Petal and petaloid color.—The adaxial sides of the petals            are primarily Red-Purple Group N66A with White Group NN155D            at the very base of the petal. The color of the abaxial side            of the petals is closest to Red-Purple Group N57D.        -   Petal discoloration.—The general tonality of the adaxial            petal distal edge surface of a fully open bloom at the first            day through the second day: Red-Purple Group N66A. The            general tonality of the adaxial petal surface by day six:            Red-Purple Group 67C with up to 25% of the proximal end of            the petal being White Group NN155D. The abaxial surface of            the petal is Red-Purple Group 73B.        -   Petal texture.—Thick and satiny to the touch.        -   Petal length.—1.4-1.6 cm.        -   Petal width.—0.9-1.3 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Obcordate to obovate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire to slightly undulating.        -   Petal apex shape.—Rounded to obcordate with a small point in            the axis.        -   Petal base shape.—Acute to cuneate.        -   Petal form.—Slightly cupped when opening and then petals            reflex along the longitudinal axes curling back towards the            abaxial surface.        -   Arrangement.—Multiple rows of overlapping petals and            petaloids.        -   Persistence.—Petals drop off cleanly before drying.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: Medium (about 6-8 days). As a cut            flower: Medium (about 6 days).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number per flower: 25-40. Anthers — Size: Length            before dehiscence: 1.0 mm, Width before dehiscence: 1.0 mm.            Length after dehiscence: 0.5 mm. Width after dehiscence:            0.5 mm. Color: Before dehiscense: Yellow Orange Group 17B.            After dehiscence: Yellow-Orange Group 22A. Arrangement:            Regular and borne around styles. Filaments — Size: Length:            Short, 1-4 mm. Width: 0.25 mm. Color: Yellow-Orange Group            17B. Pollen — Color: Yellow Orange Group 17A.        -   Pistils.—Number per flower: 8-15. Stigmas — Color:            Yellow-Green Group 150C. Width: 0.5 mm. Styles — Color:            Green-Yellow Group 1C. Length: 3-5 mm. Width: 0.3 mm. Ovary            — Color of immature ovary: Yellow-Green Group 145D. Shape:            elliptic to round. Length: 1 mm.        -   Hips.—The fleshy portion of rose hips is comprised of            hypanthium tissue and lining the inside that tissue are            achenes — individual indehiscent fruits that typically            contain a single embryo within a hard pericarp. Hips are            typically abundantly produced on ‘Phyllis Sherman’. Sepals            abscise upon ripening. Hypanthium: Color when immature:            Green Group 146C. Color when mature: Orange-Red Group 30B.            Shape: Generally round. Size:10-12 mm long and 10-12 mm            wide.        -   Achenes (ripe).—Color: Yellow Green Group 150D. Shape:            Irregular. Size: 4-6 mm. Typically there are 6-8 achenes per            hip.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Spreading and slightly mounded.        -   Growth.—Very vigorous, well-branched, and dense.        -   Typical age mature size.—3 years.        -   Mature plant.—Height about 50 cm and width about 80 cm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Form.—Leaves typically have five to seven leaflets.        -   Arrangement.—Leaves are alternately arranged on stems.        -   Size.—Medium (7-9 cm long and 4-6 cm wide).        -   Quantity.—Normal.        -   Leaflet color.—New foliage: Adaxial side: Yellow-Green Group            146B. Abaxial side: Yellow Green Group 146C. Mature foliage:            Adaxial side: Green Group 137A. Abaxial side: Yellow-Green            Group 146B.        -   Leaflet veination pattern.—Pinnate reticulate.        -   Leaflet veination color.—The color of the veins is            comparable to that of the overall leaf blade. New foliage:            Adaxial side: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Abaxial side: Yellow            Green Group 146C. Mature foliage: Adaxial side: Green Group            137A. Abaxial side: Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Leaflet size.—Terminal leaflets: Medium (3.5-4.0 cm long and            2.0-2.5 cm wide). Non-terminal leaflets: Medium (2.5-3.0 cm            long and 1.5-2.0 cm wide).        -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaflet base shape.—Rounded.        -   Leaflet apex shape.—Typically acute and in some instances            slightly acuminate.        -   Leaflet texture.—Glossy, rugose. On the adaxial side of            leaflets the veins are slightly recessed and on the abaxial            side they are slightly elevated relative to the general leaf            blade.        -   Leaflet edge.—Serrated.        -   Petiole and rachis.—Color. — Adaxial side: Green Group 137B.            Abaxial side: Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Petiole and rachis shape.—Sulcate.        -   Petiole underside.—Generally smooth with periodic small            prickles that are about 0.5 mm long and 0.2 mm wide and            Yellow-Green Group 144A in color. Prickles are straight to            slightly downward facing.        -   Stipules.—Short (about 0.8-1.0 cm in length and 0.1-0.3 cm            in width). Color: Yellow-Green Group 146A, edges with a            moderate amount of relatively narrow and small appendages            (0.3-1.0 mm long and 0.1 mm wide).        -   Disease resistance.—Resistant to powdery mildew, black spot,            and rust under normal growing conditions.        -   Pest persistence.—Not observed.-   Stems:    -   -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Length.—Typically about 20-35 cm.        -   Diameter.—Varies and is most commonly 3-6 mm. Larger stems            arising from the base of the plant are about 6-8 mm in            diameter, while smaller stems arising from either the base            of the plant or side branches arising within the plant            canopy are commonly 3-4 mm in diameter.        -   Color.—New stems: Generally Yellow-Green Group 146C. Bark:            Smooth. Mature stems: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Bark: Smooth.-   Stem prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Moderate: typically 2-3 for each internode region.        -   Form.—Straight to very slightly downward hooked.        -   Length.—6-8 mm.        -   Width.—3-6 mm near stem and narrowing to tip.        -   Color when young.—Greyed-Green Group 193B often with some            overlaid red color in the sun of Greyed-Red Group 181D.        -   Color when mature.—Between Greyed-Orange Group 174A and            Greyed-Orange Group 174B.        -   Secondary stem prickles.—None.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Softwood and semi-hardwood stem cuttings have            been effective.        -   Time required for root initiation and initial            development.—It takes about 2 to 3 weeks during the summer            using intermittent mist in the greenhouse without            supplemental lighting for cuttings to generate roots.        -   Time required to obtain a well-rooted cutting.—It takes            about 6 weeks to produce a well-rooted cutting in a 2 inch            pot or cell.-   Cytology:    -   -   Ploidy.—Diploid (2n=2x=14). Meristematic root tip cells in            the stage of metaphase of mitosis were observed to have 14            chromosomes under a light microscope at 400× magnification.-   Winter hardiness: Consistently crown hardy to United States    Department of Agriculture cold hardiness zone 4.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the polyanthaclass, substantially as herein shown and described, characterizedparticularly by its slightly spreading, mounded, well-branched, compactplant habit; vigorous growth; double flowers typically borne in clustersof 6 or more; vivid purplish-pink petals; continuous floweringthroughout the growing season; resistance to major fungal diseases;reliable crown hardiness in USDA zone 4, and ability to root and growvigorously from softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings.